You always know when a Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata is around because all the other birds kick up a fuss although they don’t seem to be a direct threat, being more interested in stick insects.
The Pacific Baza’s favorite prey is large insects, particularly stick insects and mantids, and frogs. They sometimes eat fruit as well. Bazzas will move through the canopy, or perch and watch, then make short dives, with feet extended, to snatch prey from the foliage or from the air. Birds in Backyards
Three of these magnificent birds have been visiting various parts of Fox Gully over the past week. While I was watching one of the Bazas flew into the trees planted in the Zone 8 restoration then landed back on the same branch to eat something long and green. I was too far away to photograph but I suspect it was a stick insect.
My father was a Scout Leader in Nambour when I was growing up so I sure he would have loved to be there today with the cheerful group I joined for Clean Up Australia in Roly Chapman Reserve.
Robyn, left, is Group Leader of the dynamic Upper Mt Gravatt Scout Group. Robyn glowed with pride as she told me today that she has just signed up five new youth members!
Rain don’t stop Scouts!
Scouts are not put off by a bit rain. Even water over the bridge did not slow them down. Event organiser Brett thought they may have to cancel yesterday when Mimosa Creek was over the rails but by 10pm last night the level had dropped so the Clean Up was on.
Patrolling Mimosa Creek
Ten parents and youth members signed on today braving rain, flooded tracks and lots of mud, to removed countless drink containers, an old car tyre swing and large pieces of metal and wood.
It was a real pleasure to work with a group who can laugh and have fun even on a rainy day.
Much of our work in restoring habitat in the Reserve is cleaning up damage done by easy to avoid action, like people dumping their garden waste in the bush when they could often simply put it into their wheelie bin.
Keeping our family cats inside at night takes a bit of effort. However it is still a relatively simple action that has huge benefits for our nocturnal wildlife like gliders and possums.
Gliders are one of the cutest of our Australian native animals. Sugar Gliders Petaurus breviceps and Squirrel Gliders Petaurus norfolcensis are found in Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve. Restoration work at Fox Gully Bushcare site includes installation of nest-boxes to provide habitat for hollow dwelling animals like gliders, possums and birds.
Southern Star – 20 Feb 2013 – page 8
So it was heart breaking to see the remains of a glider attacked by a domestic cat.
Sharing the story with the Southern Star is one way to help people think about doing things differently.
Over the last two days I have walked the tracks in the Reserve to see what damage was done by last week’s storm. Being a mountain flooding is not a problem however we have lost a significant number of large eucalypts, a number of Casuarinas and a significant number of dead old trees (stags) which are often important habitat because of their nest hollows. A number tracks are blocked by fallen trees which will take time to clear as the Council teams prioritise clean up work.
Storm block illegal mountain bike tracks
However, the storm has created some unexpected benefits for the habitat as fallen trees have blocked tracks used by illegal downhill mountain bike riders. We have had a number of reports that mountain bike riders have been seen in the Reserve so I also walked the areas that have been damaged illegal riding. I found some evidence of bike riding including clearing of logs placed by Council contractors to block tracks and minimise further erosion. So I was pleased to find a number of tracks blocked by large branches broken in the storm.
Red-browed Finch – click to enlarge
I am also heartened by seeing wildlife thriving in the post storm environment.
… and a previously unrecorded dragonfly – Blue-spotted Hawker Adversaeschna brevistyla on the Summit Track. Thanks to Graham McDonald for the id. You can see more info on this and other dragonflies at Brisbane Insects.
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Shepherd’s Crook Orchid
I also found the Shepherd’s Crook Orchid flowering again at the Fox Gully Bushcare site. This is particularly important as this beautiful native orchid has been returned to the Reserve as a result of restoration work undertaken at the Fox Gully site.
Then on Friday night Matt Hill heard a scratching noise in the trees behind his deck. Thinking it was probably a possum he investigated with with torch picking up the glint of four eyes in the trees. He was delighted to find a Koala mum with her Joey comfortably nestled in her arms while she munched on leaves.
Koala sightings Fox Gully wildlife corridor
Matt and his family have been active supporters of our Fox Gully Bushcare restoration work and has been controlling weed trees, like Camphor Laurel, on his gully property. So, in December, he was proud to show me what looked like Koala scratches on a tree restored to the habitat only five years ago. This was an exciting find and now with this weeks photos we have confirmation that Koalas are not only active in the wildlife corridor but also breeding successfully. We also received another report this week of a Koala sighted high in a tree beside the footpath to the Griffith University Bus Station.
Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus pereginus
Restoration of this key wildlife corridor is now supported by seventeen property owners whose backyards include the gully and community members committed to restoring habitat for Koalas, birds, butterflies, frogs and native bees.
Restoration of the of the wildlife corridor is having a positive effect as shown by the number of Koala sighting as well as increasing other wildlife. At the top end of the gully, Roger and Margaret have a family of Ringtail Possums Pseudocheirus pereginus living in the top of staghorn ferns. Just before Christmas a mother with two babies on her back was sighted and Friday Margaret called to say the father had been disturbed from his staghorn nest when Roger was hosing.
Note his spiky hair and spiky attitude as he cleans water off his coat.
Please be patient with these cute creatures if they eat some of your fruit. During the 1950’s Common Ringtail Possum populations severely declined in numbers. Currently populations seem to have recovered but they are at risk of attack by cats loose at night.
Unlike Brushtail Possums Trichosurus vulpecula, Ringtails tend to avoid house ceilings, preferring to nest in trees or the tops of staghorns, so they are not considered pests in suburban areas.d
We host international students at times and today we received a note from the Japanese student who will be living with us during February. One thing she was very clear about: “I want to see a Koala.” With latest sighting, reported this week, of a Koala in a tree beside the footpath leading to Griffith University Bus Station there is an increasing chance that she will see a Koala on the way to university.
It really is fun to watch international students/visitors when they see a Koala just sitting (usually sleeping) in a tree or an Echidna walking across the track … and not a zoo keeper in sight. The most amazing experience though was watching Jian, an international student from Shanghai, when he came face to face with a Koala right on our back deck.
Southern Star – January 16, 2013
You can get involved with bush restoration, reporting any Koala sightings on Koala Tracker or simply slowing down and reporting sick or injured wildlife to 1300 ANIMAL 24/7.
The Southern Star interview with Adrian Schrinner and Natalie Forrest is very valuable in building community awareness. However, it is not only out at Gumdale and Chandler that we need to be increasing careful if we want to have Koalas living in our backyards. We have had one Koala killed on Klumpp Road and another rescued on Creek Road after a car strike.
Media Statement – funding approved for self-guided walks in the bush – Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve
By: Michael Fox
Support of an Everyone’s Environment Grant will allow us to open Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve to the community in a completely new way.
As the Minister’s media release says, 2013 will be busy as the concept is to duplicate the popular self-guided Summit Track walk for the whole walking track network in the Reserve.
A partnership with Brisbane City Council will see the installation of station markers at points
Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve walking tracks
of interest. Mt Gravatt Environment Group will research the flora, fauna and geology while drawing on the knowledge of groups such as Mt Gravatt Historical Society to present the human story of the mountain.
The first stage of research has already been completed as Jon and Karla Henry have used GPS technology to map the walking tracks including some of the relatively unknown tracks like the link from the Scout Hall on Logan Road.
“The degree to which community involvement at a voluntary level enhances the life of the residentsof Mansfield is immense. In addition to the P&Cs, Meals on Wheels, Neighbourhood Watch and sportinggroups—go the Vultures—are groups like the Mount Gravatt Environment Group, which does a magnificent job looking after Mount Gravatt and its environs …” Ian Walker MP, Maiden Speech to Queensland Parliament
I also acknowledge the valuable advice and support provided by, the often forgotten, department members in both, the state Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, and BCC Local Asset Services.
The outlook for Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve is looking good with good rain forecast through to February which will greatly enhance the habitat restoration at our Bushcare sites.
Rainbow Lorikeet chicks – click on photo to see colour of new feathers
When we first confirmed the chicks had hatched we were not sure that they were Rainbows but one week on there is now no doubt as their colours develop. Click on the photo to enlarge.
We have also had another Koala report this week from Ramita Street near Ekibin Creek.
A pair of Rainbow Lorikeets Trichoglossus haematodus are the first to successfully hatch a family in our Fox Gully nest-boxes. Two chicks have been hatched out and seem to be doing ok although the parents are rarely home.
At least we think they are Rainbow chicks. This particular nest box was originally occupied by a pair of Pale Headed Rosellas Platycercus eximius who laid three eggs before they were kicked out by the Rainbow couple.
Rainbow Lorikeets chicks or Pale-headed Rosella?
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Given the increasingly blue colour of the chicks we are wondering if our Rainbows are raising a pair of Pale-headed Rosellas.
I also checked the new Hollow Log Home nest-boxes but no eggs or chicks in any yet. However, as I was walking back I saw this Kookaburra sitting in the entry to the owl box. Unfortunately I was carrying the monitoring equipment and was not quick enough to get a photo of him actually sitting in the owl box.
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New tenants – Photo: Alan Moore
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Alan Moore also reported some hopeful news on the Pale-headed Rosellas. A pair seem to be very interested in one of the new Hollow Log nest-boxes.
It is an honour to host this workshops with Alan Moore sharing his exprience of capturing the feeling of being in the bush and seeing the extraordinary results achieved by workshop participants. Alan refers to his workshop as “Magic of the Mountain – see it through other eyes” and participants photos demonstrate just how differntly people “see” exactly the same scene.
Feedback from participants has been very positive with individuals saying they are now using camera features they never tried before. Also our 2013 Photo Calendar displaying participants work has already sold out!
Mount Gravatt Environment Group 
